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-   -   Off to Honolulu (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/2033137-off-honolulu.html)

warakorn Feb 8, 2021 9:25 am

Thanks for the report!
Did you see the sun at least once on Oahu?

glasman19 Feb 8, 2021 12:04 pm


Originally Posted by warakorn (Post 33023652)
Thanks for the report!
Did you see the sun at least once on Oahu?

Yes, During my lunch meeting the sun did appear - briefly.

glasman19 Feb 8, 2021 12:12 pm


Originally Posted by SFO777 (Post 33021713)
Great report as always. How depressing to see the tired and empty HHV.

Everything is relative but what a sorry comment on the state of today's UA when you celebrate getting a crew that provides good service despite UA's pathetic catering constraints.
Dunno, but no PDB and a choice of either a blue label sandwich or Tapas box and that's the best domestic flight in some time? :eek:

Such a comedian. :D

Thank You SFO777. Yes it was very depressing - a lot like United.

You are so correct - and a solid 12 flights of documented Blue Labels all across the country. I'm ready for a new offering. I'm just several thousand miles from my next lifetime threshold and once locked I'm pretty much free to explore.

:)

wakesetter93 Feb 8, 2021 5:49 pm


Originally Posted by glasman19 (Post 33024016)
Thank You SFO777. Yes it was very depressing - a lot like United.

You are so correct - and a solid 12 flights of documented Blue Labels all across the country. I'm ready for a new offering. I'm just several thousand miles from my next lifetime threshold and once locked I'm pretty much free to explore.

:)

Congrats on that! I'm a long way away from breaking free of AA

edgewood49 Feb 13, 2021 3:25 pm


Originally Posted by glasman19 (Post 33001350)
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c609f54e93.jpg

I love the The Hilton Hawaiian Village! I loved it a little more when Conrad and Barron owned it, but I still love this grand property. Sure there are better properties on the Island - but I keep coming back all these years later as I have fond memories of bringing my, then, young girls and their friends to the resort. This visit is different; it's an eye opener, I wasn't prepared.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...96da7fdf2d.jpg

I booked an Ocean Front and was notified upon check-in that I was upgraded to a corner Diamond Head view room. I was also notified that the only tower on the property that is open was the Rainbow Tower - oh, and none of the resort's restaurants or bars are open and parking is "self" - as they have no valet. Food is available across the street at the Rainbow Bazzar.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...69d0892cbd.jpg

Record rain still coming down.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e078807fd6.jpg

Gorgeous view, but wow this room and tower is tired.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a3c08f33f7.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a396f8f9cf.jpg


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c9781234e4.jpg

I dropped my bags then headed out to the ABC store for water and supplies. I then picked up a Round Table pizza for an early dinner. I stayed in and enjoyed the storm and finalized meeting details and called it a night.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5746d227fc.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...557a146b63.jpg

Honolulu had record rains during my visit. They recorded more rain in one day than my hometown gets annually.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1d04893f91.jpg

I woke at 3am still on PST. I tossed and turned and stared at the ceiling until I decided to get up and go climb KoKo Crater since my meeting wasn't until 11.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6d8f54db4d.jpg

I arrived at the trail head just before dawn. I was excited to to climb the 1058 railroad ties as I have climbed The Incline in Manitou Springs, CO with my daughters on several occasions when Mrs. Glasman and I are in Colorado visiting.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...85f68603ef.jpg


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...611a43ce3b.jpg


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...884d9ae400.jpg

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve in the distance - which was closed.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...77d8e66fe7.jpg

After my hour long up and back trek, I nursed my trembling legs by taking a drive out to see Robin's Nest of Magnum PI fame. Rumor has it, the compound will be the future vacation home of previous President Obama.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d1e92ed66c.jpg


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e30ed6a0d6.jpg


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2bc13b17d9.jpg


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c7839a11dc.jpg

Time to head back to the HHV to get ready for my meeting.

We arranged to meet at Restaurant 604 by the Arizona Memorial for a working lunch.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c19b963485.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...efa9597c4d.jpg

...which claimed to have the Best Bloody Marys in Hawaii.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a450cb42ea.jpg

Ok, we will be the judge of that.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f35aad8d04.jpg

Wonderful bay front views from our table.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3289f702e9.jpg

Adequate cocktail menu.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e17d111fe3.jpg

Workable Lunch Menu

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a7d87b1c47.jpg

Again great views. 😃 No photos of our meal as we had our work spread all over the table.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...989a7aa488.jpg

After a successful and extended meeting, my work colleague completed 604's contact trace form. We said our goodbyes and agreed to meet up in Dallas in April.

I then headed back to the HHV to explore the property and catch up on work.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e5a7295c75.jpg

After a quick change of clothes, I went out to explore a mostly deserted, but beautiful resort. Layers of dust in the Rainbow Tower Restaurant.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f444330ee4.jpg


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a3e1e53a43.jpg

No beach towels... but a resort fee?

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...de9262410c.jpg

Rainbow Tower, est. 1968. Where we ALL were staying.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3d42b5340e.jpg

Hau Tree Bar, closed.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a7adf48ff1.jpg

The famous beach front Tropics Bar.....

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5243e0953a.jpg

Pad Locked.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...bc3a45391f.jpg


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e34414a830.jpg

With 95% of the HHV stores closed and most vacant, Louis Vuitton wasn't one of them.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a3dfa50e62.jpg

Tapas Bar - Closed and dusty.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...fb876321e4.jpg

I do love the posted timeline of the history of the resort located on the North side of the closed Tapas Tower. Better than Wikipedia.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...941e801334.jpg

Kuhio Tower. Closed. Dirty.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...dbadd0bb60.jpg

I could go on. I am so amazed at what this pandemic has done to our economy, especially Hawaii's! What is normally a bustling resort, is now a victim of our current state. I'm guessing the HHV is operating at 8-10% employment, that is 100's of local jobs. I don't know how they are keeping afloat. I cant wait to return in better times.

Next. Back to California; United really out-performs.

Great post and thank you much appreciated. So here is my question there are all these "bloggers" etc that just full speed ahead to fly somewhere like Hawaii ( I know yours was business I know that story as I have been doing business in the island since the 80's and was there right after 911 some thing) So you get on a plane hoping that everyone one there has lived up to their end of the deal and land in the islands. Ok you have a choice of rooms got it. But then what do you do, restaurants are hit and miss if their open, you have to wonder how long food has sat around, walking around it's what your pictures reflect dirty dusty and mostly void of tourist or anyone for that matter, now tell me how enjoyable is that? My wife has family in the islands that we haven't seen in awhile and still we are not going just yet.

offerendum Feb 13, 2021 6:17 pm

Sad in many ways

Finkface Feb 13, 2021 6:44 pm


Originally Posted by edgewood49 (Post 33035526)
Great post and thank you much appreciated. So here is my question there are all these "bloggers" etc that just full speed ahead to fly somewhere like Hawaii ( I know yours was business I know that story as I have been doing business in the island since the 80's and was there right after 911 some thing) So you get on a plane hoping that everyone one there has lived up to their end of the deal and land in the islands. Ok you have a choice of rooms got it. But then what do you do, restaurants are hit and miss if their open, you have to wonder how long food has sat around, walking around it's what your pictures reflect dirty dusty and mostly void of tourist or anyone for that matter, now tell me how enjoyable is that? My wife has family in the islands that we haven't seen in awhile and still we are not going just yet.

It certainly isn’t devoid of tourists. There are far too many, if you ask me. While it isn’t up to pre-Covid numbers, it is certainly getting close. And restaurants are all open. Maybe not at HHV or other resorts, but everywhere else they are. Everything is open and busy. It was paradise here back in November when it was mostly locals. Now it is all tourists again, and not the good kind either. Almost 100% Americans who got a cheapo deal on WN and eat at cheapo places. They don’t help the local economy much.

edgewood49 Feb 13, 2021 7:41 pm


Originally Posted by Finkface (Post 33035790)
It certainly isn’t devoid of tourists. There are far too many, if you ask me. While it isn’t up to pre-Covid numbers, it is certainly getting close. And restaurants are all open. Maybe not at HHV or other resorts, but everywhere else they are. Everything is open and busy. It was paradise here back in November when it was mostly locals. Now it is all tourists again, and not the good kind either. Almost 100% Americans who got a cheapo deal on WN and eat at cheapo places. They don’t help the local economy much.

I am going to take the "high" road in response. I am not so sure "all" the restaurants are open according to family living there, "paradise" without tourist can be great but that only goes so far. As for WN and their "cheapo" passengers ( I am using your words not mine) are still contributing to the island economy and surely they would take offense to those comments. I have been involved in business in the islands for a long time and have seen the ups and down of the economy and tourism, frankly the islands need as many WN passengers as they can get.

Maholo

SFO777 Feb 13, 2021 7:44 pm


Originally Posted by Finkface (Post 33035790)
It certainly isn’t devoid of tourists. There are far too many, if you ask me. While it isn’t up to pre-Covid numbers, it is certainly getting close. And restaurants are all open. Maybe not at HHV or other resorts, but everywhere else they are. Everything is open and busy. It was paradise here back in November when it was mostly locals. Now it is all tourists again, and not the good kind either. Almost 100% Americans who got a cheapo deal on WN and eat at cheapo places. They don’t help the local economy much.

Well aren’t we special? It’s that kind of repulsive attitude from locals that turns off so many and makes us never want to return to endure any more fake aloha. Hawaii ain’t that special. As someone who lived in Hawaii, built a home and made a fortune when we sold, we were so done with Hawaii that we have never willingly gone back and spent any more time there. There are dozens of far nicer and more enjoyable and hospitable places in the world to visit and spend money.

Finkface Feb 13, 2021 9:03 pm


Originally Posted by edgewood49 (Post 33035863)
I am going to take the "high" road in response. I am not so sure "all" the restaurants are open according to family living there, "paradise" without tourist can be great but that only goes so far. As for WN and their "cheapo" passengers ( I am using your words not mine) are still contributing to the island economy and surely they would take offense to those comments. I have been involved in business in the islands for a long time and have seen the ups and down of the economy and tourism, frankly the islands need as many WN passengers as they can get.

Maholo

My exact words were “who got a cheapo deal on WN” not cheapo passengers as you erroneously said were my words. I’m not sure how else you would classify $62 to HNL if not a cheapo deal. But whatever.

And the restaurants that were able to survive 2020 are indeed open. Other than at resorts it seems, as I said.

As for the rest, I am just telling you what I see. Mask usage along busy Kalakaua at night hovers around 30%, including where the throngs gather in front of the Cheesecake Factory, poor behaviour, entitled attitudes and little respect for the heath and well-being of the people who live and work here. Requests to put on masks when crowded together are met with abuse and obscenities much of the time and ignored the rest, including in my own building elevators by tourists who scored AirBnB rentals at half of the normal rates. Just calling it as I see it.

SFO777 Feb 13, 2021 9:20 pm

Puleeze...


Originally Posted by Finkface (Post 33036030)
My exact words were “who got a cheapo deal on WN” not cheapo passengers as you erroneously said were my words.

LOL. There was nothing erroneous about what edgewood49 wrote. Your exact words were...


Originally Posted by Finkface (Post 33035790)
Now it is all tourists again, and not the good kind either. Almost 100% Americans who got a cheapo deal on WN and eat at cheapo places. They don’t help the local economy much.


Finkface Feb 13, 2021 9:23 pm


Originally Posted by SFO777 (Post 33036073)
LOL. There was nothing erroneous about what edgewood49 wrote. Your exact words were...

Um, yeah. Exactly what I said,who got a cheapo deal on WN”.

edgewood49 Feb 14, 2021 10:02 am


Originally Posted by Finkface (Post 33036075)
Um, yeah. Exactly what I said,who got a cheapo deal on WN”.

SFO777 was spot on I have spent 30 years plus doing business in the islands married a Hawaiian girl who's family goes back a long way while that does not make me an authority I can tell you the "Aloha" spirit has left the islands a long time ago. And yes SFO is also correct that there are a number of other islands the "cheapo's" can visit Bermuda is one that comes to mind.

Aloha

FlyDeltaMD88 Feb 15, 2021 11:39 pm

Great report, looks like I'm not going to be in a hurry to make it to Hawaii soon with those poor offerings. I understand the pandemic is still on-going but I am not going through all those hoops and hurdles just for everything to be closed and lackluster.

Finkface Feb 16, 2021 12:21 am


Originally Posted by FlyEndeavorAir (Post 33040239)
Great report, looks like I'm not going to be in a hurry to make it to Hawaii soon with those poor offerings. I understand the pandemic is still on-going but I am not going through all those hoops and hurdles just for everything to be closed and lackluster.

Not that I am advocating coming here because the reception is decidedly less than warm but Waikiki is back. Yesterday, we walked down to the HHV just to see it. The beach the entire way along Kalakaua was just as jam packed as any other busy day from years past and the weather was overcast with intermittent rain. Shoulder to shoulder packed. You would never know this wasn’t any normal day in any normal year. The HHV was buzzing and while probably not as packed as normal (I never go there so can’t compare) it was definitely busy. In the lobby, I counted 30 people waiting to check in at the general line and 5 at the elite line. At the pool, every single chaise was taken (they have spaced and reduced the number, looked to be about half the usual number) and people sitting on the deck at the edge of the pool. This was at 4pm. There was a line around the corner for Lapperts and we may or may not have waited in it for a Valentines treat (totally worth the wait). Round Table pizza in the shopping area was packed and the stores that were open were fairly busy, including the touristy pearl-in-the-shell kiosk (2 couples at it). I didn’t look at other restaurants. Walking back, the usual 30 or so people were waiting for a table at the Cheesecake Factory and a table set up outside for pick up orders was overflowing. California Pizza was full of people and the sidewalks as busy as any normal day.


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